Mt. Pleasant School Board makes quick work of night?s agenda

BY KARYN SPORY

Mt. Pleasant News

Monday night?s regular meeting of the Mt. Pleasant School Board went about as quickly and smoothly as one could imagine before heading into closed session for negotiation discussions.

The big item on Monday?s agenda, the preliminary fiscal year 2017 budget, garnered little discussion, but will have a work session devoted to it tonight (Tues.).

District Director of Business and Finance Ed Chabal, said there has yet to be a decision on Supplemental State Aid, so for the purposes of developing the budget, he based his figures on a two percent

?Actually, the supplemental state aid for the (fiscal) year beginning July 1, 2017,was suppose to be decided last spring,? he said. ?So they (legislatures) are currently 395 days behind on setting supplemental state aid.?

The Iowa Senate has passed a bill increasing school funding by four percent, while the Iowa House of Representatives has approved two percent. Gov. Terry Branstad has said he would support 2.45 percent increase in state aid for schools.

However, no decision has been made. ?I think what they?re waiting for is (House-Senate) conference committee this Wednesday, to take a look at that and hopefully settle supplemental state aid,? he said.

The House-Senate conference committee works to resolve spending differences.

Chabal?s preliminary budget included a max Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) of $1.67, which is the same as fiscal year 2016. PPEL, Chabal stated, is mostly used for purchasing technology, including the computers used for the 1:1 initiative.

Also the same as last year is the amount held as cash reserves, once again coming in at $775,000.

The proposed levy rate will increase from $14.25 per $1,000 taxable valuation to $14,28 per $1,000 valuation; a three percent increase that Chabal deems, ?very reasonable.?

During tonight?s work session, the board will discuss enrollment numbers as well as the unspent balance.

The budget must be certified by April 15. The public budget hearing date will be on Monday, April 11, at 6:15 p.m.

The board breezed through the rest of the agenda on Monday, approving the 28E agreement for Iowa Education Benefits Program. Chabal stated the district has been a part of the agreement for the past 20 plus years and it allows the district to receive healthcare benefits ? dental, vision, etc. ? at a lower rate, as Mt. Pleasant is one of 12 schools in the program. Chabal said minute changes were made within the agreement, including changing the title.

The board also approved amending the 2015-16 school calendar by making the last three Fridays in May, professional development days. Students will be dismissed from classes on May 6, 13 and 20, at 1:30 p.m.

During the meeting, the board also heard a slew of reports from the Middle School and High School English and language arts departments discussing literacy activities that have been occurring in the district, as well as an administrate report from Interim Superintendent Dr. John Roderer. Roederer updated the board on the searches for Director of Instruction and Technology Director.

The district is hoping to interview finalists for the Director of Instruction position on March 21 and 24. ?Henriksen (incoming superintendent) has been in and is reviewing the 13 candidates (for the position), and we?ve gotten it down to either four or five (finalists),? said Roederer.

As for the Technology Director position, Roederer said he?s had several applications submitted and he is in the process of reviewing candidates.

Lastly, Michael McBeth, Middle School social studies teacher, spoke to the board during open forum, saying he hoped the board would look into allowing faculty to donate vacation sick days to those who might need them for an extenuating circumstance. McBeth, who is retiring at the end of the year, said he had an exorbitant amount of personal and sick days that he would rather give to someone in need than just see them disappear.

In other business, the board:

? Approved the hiring of Laura Moore, Salem one-on-one para; Morganne Pryor, Harlan one-on-one para; Colby Newman, assistant varsity softball coach; and Kim Gray, junior varsity softball coach.

? Approved the resignation of Jane Dotson, Van Allen first grade; Michael McBeth, Middle School social studies; Jackie Brawner, High School at-risk; and Drew Hackenmiller, Lincoln one-on-one para.

? Approved the transfer of Rocco Russo from WisdomQuest to High School resource teacher; Heidi Huckabone from fourth grade at Harlan to Harlan/Lincoln exercise science; and BreAnne Hagerman from Harlan kindergarten to Van Allen first grade.

The next regular meeting of the Mt. Pleasant School Board will be on Monday, March 28, at 6 p.m., at the High School media center.